Roman Catholicism

Catholicism is the largest sect of Christianity, with 1.27 billion members. The religion originated with Saint Peter, Jesus' appointed successor, who established the bishopric of Rome. Peter's successors, the Popes, were the heads of the religion, chosen by either the College of Cardinals or intervening monarchs who sought to control religious politics. The Catholic Church was the dominant religion in Western Europe from the 4th century until the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, which led to schisms within the church that led to the creation of Protestantism; its eastern branches had broken off very early in the history of Christianity, forming the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Nestorian Church, the Miaphysite Armenian Apostolic Church and Coptic Christianity, and smaller denominations and heresies. The religion adheres very closely to the original beliefs of Christianity, and it fell behind in a progressive world as the 20th and 21st centuries passed by, leading to criticism of its refusal to ordain women, corruption scandals, and child sex abuse scandals. However, the religion is notable for its charity, education, and loyalty to the original doctrines of the Bible, and, along with the Coptic Church, it is the only main Christian religion to have an appointed leader. Religious groups such as the Maronites and Melkites are often counted as Catholics.